Charismatic moments

Follow the most charismatic moments of "Lua de Mel no Corvo", through this YouTube channel:

Lua de Mel no Corvo

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First Common Tern chicks born in Corvo

Hello, my name is Michelle and I arrived in Corvo last Friday on the 11th of June.

I’m originally from Singapore, but now I am doing a Master’s in Conservation Science in Britain. My master’s thesis involves the development of an acoustic monitoring method to estimate the number of nesting shearwaters and part of this work will be conducted on Corvo.

We currently have four ARUs (automated recording units) deployed around the Azores, with two on Corvo. Every night over the next two months, the ARUs will record the calls of the Cory Shearwaters as they fly into their colony. I will then use a computer program analyse the recordings to determine the frequency (the number of calls per night) from each ARU.

The ARUs will be placed in sites with different density of shearwaters burrows. I will have to count all the burrows in a 25 radius circle around the ARU to get the number of the nesting population to determine the density of the site. I will then see if there is a relationship between the calling frequency of the ARU and the burrow density surrounding them.

If all goes right, there will be a higher frequency of calls around a colony with more birds. We hope to develop this acoustic monitoring method to get accurate estimates on endangered seabirds populations in the future. Many seabirds nest in inaccessible areas, or only fly in at night which makes it hard to conduct traditional censusing. Hopefully in the future we will be able to put out ARUs and get a better idea of endangered seabird populations.

We were on the islet

On the 2nd – 4th of June we were on Vila Franco do Campo islet to monitor Cory’s Shearwater nests.

Of 284 of the initially identified potential nests, 63 (22.18%) were occupied and 181 (63.73%) showed some evidence of being occupied. At this stage in Corvo, almost 50% of couples have already laid an egg. Only 1 artificial nest was occupied and 8 have the potential to be occupied.

Since Vila Franca do Campo islet does not have introduced predators, it is important to investigate the Cory’s Shearwater breeding success to provide a comparison with an island with predators. We will also determine natural mortality on our next visit to be held during the hatching period.

Was also carried out reed control on the western slope of the isle. Vegetation and invertebrate’s surveys using pit-falls traps were conducted and compared with the results from Spring.

Finally, were used wax blocks with peanut butter to confirm the absence of rodents.

We participate in Eco-escolas Project

On June 6th, 17 teachers from five different nationalities and nine students from the School Mouzinho da Silveira joined us to carry out a birdwatching day. The activity falls within the scope of the project Eco-Schools, which is an international initiative that aims to recognize the good work carried out by the school. Participants were inspired not only by the beautiful landscapes along the trail call "Cara do ìndio", but also for the unique opportunity to see a cagarro to incubate the egg in the nest.

The Azorean Laurustinus germinated

In September 2009 we collected seeds of the endemic Azorean Laurustinus, Viburnum subcordatum and after nearly two years, in March 2011 the first plants have germinated in our greenhouse.

Corvo Honeymoon

A new site on the internet is born, which allow us to follow closely the behavior of a couple in the nest. The Cory's Shearwater is the most common seabird of the Azores. They spend is life on sea and only return to land for nesting.

In the village of Corvo Island, our team mounted a video surveillance system that allow to monitor by the first time, the most symbolic moments of this bird reproduction. Join us until November, the time which juveniles ventured into the sea.

http://cagarro.spea.pt

This project is under development and still a 1.3 beta version, however, is constantly updated.

Good visit!

Little shearwater visit us

On May 30, we received a visitor who needed some care. It was a Little shearwater - Puffinus assimilis, which was found in the surroundings of Corvo’s church

(Sandra Hervías and Pedro Geraldes ringing the bird)

Our team cleaned the bird wounds, ring it and return it to nature on the next night.

(Video still captured at the release time)